Dishwashing machine



1, 1953 J. G. RUSPINO 2,648,588

DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l Mad 4 Z7 fZZZyAug. 11, 1953 J. G. RUSPINO 2,648,588

DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. l11 95 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISHWASHING MACHINE James G. Ruspino,Chicago, Ill., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation ofNew York Application May 31, 1952, Serial No. 290,984

improve the accessibility and utility of said racks by independentlymounting on roller supports a bottom plate rack and an upper cup andglass rack and arranging certain of said roller-supported means foradjustment of the clearance between said bottom and upper racks.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel roller mountingarrangement for the upper rack, pursuant to which increased clearancespace may be obtained with respect to the top of the washing vat toaccommodate unusually tall glasses, or alternatively, increased spacemay be obtained between the upper and lower racks to accommodateunusually large diameter plates or the like in said lower rack.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simplifiedglassware rack supporting structure which affords the advantages of asecure framework for supporting the rack and. smooth roll-out operation,combined with means whereby the rack may be positioned on saidsupporting framework to obtain the above-noted clearance adjustment.

This invention has particular utility in domestic dishwashing machineswhich have rather rigid dimensional limitations. To be commerciallycompetitive, a domestic dishwasher must be sized for installation belowa kitchen sink drain board, or as part of a kitchen counter structure.As is well known, drain board and counter tops have been standardized atapproximately 36" above the floor. The space available within thedishwasher casing or frame structure for the washing vat is limited tothe space required for mounting below the vat the motor, control valvesystem, and plumbing drain connections. Another spaceconsuming factor isthat most plumbing codes require that the water inlet system of thedishwasher have at least a one-inch vertical air gap between thedischarge spout and the maximum overflow spill level of the machine. Itis also well known in the dishwasher art that the lowermost rack must bespaced sufficiently above the impeller to insure the proper waterdistribution pattern over and about the articles being washed, andadequate drainage therefrom. Thus, it is not possible within the limitedspace available to provide fixed or permanent supports which wouldseparate the upper and lower racks sufficiently to permit thesimultaneous washing of exceptionally large size plates in the lowerrack and tall glasses in the upper rack.

I am aware that it is not unusual in the art to equip dishwashers of thefront-opening type with loading racks which are mounted on individualpull-out carriages or the like; and means have previously been proposedto locate the upper rack on one of two vertically spaced pull-outcarriages so as to obtain increased clearance if necessary between theupper rack and the top of the vat or v between the respective upper andlower racks.

In practicing my invention, however, I provide a single upper racksupporting structure having side rails arranged for roller mounting intrackways fixed to the sides, of the washing vat, and I further provideon said structure an arrangement of supporting Walls which, incooperation with specially contoured portions of the frame structure ofthe rack, will securely support said rack in either of two positionsproviding greater or less clearance relative to the top wall of thewashing vat. It is a feature of my invention that it is only necessaryto turn the rack through degrees in a horizontal plane and return it tothe common support structure to achieve the desired spaced relationship.

Other features and advantages of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment, readin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a frontsectional elevation of a portion of a dishwasher embodying the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail, in sectional elevation onlines 22 of Fig. 1, showing a form of roller support for therack-receiving support frame with respect to the trackways fixed to thesides of the vat; Fig. 3 is a plan view in section along lines 33 ofFig. 1 showing the assembled rack and support frame in operativeposition; Fig. 4 is a section on lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing a method ofsecuring the supporting trackways to the sides of the vat; Fig. 5 is afragmentary perspective of the assembled trackways, roller supports, andside rails of the support frame; Fig. 6 is a perspective of the supportframe looking from above; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on lines1i of Fig. 3 showing the rack corner structures resting on the supportframe to give maximum clearance relative to the top of the vat; Fig. 8is a fragmentary section taken on lines 88 of Fig. 3 showing the sameclearance position of other supporting elements of the rack; and Figs. 9and 10 are views similar to Figs. '7 and 8 showing the relationship ofthe tribution pattern to be created thereby.

heating element '1. with-groups of wheels or rollers for cooperation 3rack elements to the rack-supporting frame to provide for maximumclearance between the upper and lower racks.

In Fig. 1 it may be considered that a dishwasher has a five-sided vat lsuitably supported within a frame or casing 2; that said vat is open atthe front (not shown); and that said open front is-arranged tobe closedbya bottom hinged door (not'shown) which may be swung from asubstantially vertical closed position to a substantially horizontalopen position. The motordriven impeller 3 is mounted for rotation. abouta vertical axis as shown, and is largely disposed within a sump 4 towardwhich the bottom wall! of the vat slopes. drive motor, water fill anddrainage controls, plumbing connections and the like,-. which aredisposed within the casing below the vat. Placed about said impeller isa strainer or screen fi and at a level calculated to be above the normalquiet water line is an electrical heating element '1. By means-notshown, water is introduced into the vat in controlled amounts through aspray head or'nozzle Band-after the appropriate amount of water-has beenintroduced, the rapidly rotating impeller throws the water Violentlyabout; and

*dishes, glassware, and the like, respectively in the lower rack R andthe upper rack Rf, are virtually bombarded with water particles wherebythey are cleansed. As is well understood, it is necessary to place thelowermost rack sufficiently above theimpeller to permit a proper waterdis- In a well known domestic dishwasher, the clearance between the rackand the impeller is about one inch. The water distribution pattern islargely influenced by the arrangement of the articles the .lower rack.The respective racks are mounted for individual have been washed anddried, the latter operation being accomplished by the circulation withinthe vat of air which is heated by the then energized Lower rack R isprovided with various guide rails and. the like within the vat and onthe door (not shown) when the latter is in open position. For example, asuitable plu rality of side rollers 8, 8.! rollably support the rackonrails 9, 9.! projecting from the sides of the vat; and other-sets ofrollers such as ill, HM areadapted to engage with rails or othersupporting and guiding structures. No part of the dishwasher per se, orthe roller mounting for the lower rack is claimed as being my invention;and for a'more complete explanation of a typical front-loadingdishwasher and rollable bottom rack structure, reference is here made tothe presently pending application of Forrest A. Walker, S. N. 57,448,filed October 30, 1948, for Washing Apparatus and assigned to my presentassignee.

The lower rack B may be of wire frame construction as is conventional inthe art, having a suitably arranged outer framework H, base frameworkH2, and a central framework N3, the latter comprising a plurality ofsubstantially gable-shaped wire elements disposed in a circular path andinclinin from the horizontal (note element ll'.3l). Usually platters,pans, etc., are placed about the outer portion I l and plates such asindicated at P and Pi are racked individually between the gable-shapedwire members of the central framework H3. A center portion I 1.4 issometimesprovided to accommodate-a basket or Not shown are-the impellerthe like (not shown) for containing table silver.

Pursuant to the present invention, the upper rack RI is arranged to bedrawn out from and returned to the vat independently of and withoutconflict with the lower rack. In a presently preferred embodiment, Iprovide simple channelshaped trackways l2 and support said trackways inacommon horizontaltplanet by suitable means, such as a collar-14 (Fig.4)and sc1=ew l5 which enters a blind tapping l6 fixed to the tub wall. Iprefer that the collars be of one of the synthetic rubbers or plasticswhich are resistant to hot water and the detergents commonly used indishwashers. The collars are brought tightly against the-wall of thevat. The collars them selves may be-compressible, or a resilient washerl'tmayloe interposed between the channel I2 and the collar if desired.

'-'In-ea'ch side rail is a roller assembly l8 comprising a light metalballrace 20 having suitable openings toreceivein spaced rrelationshipthe ballbearings 2d. The roller assemblies serve to support the racksupport frame 22, asbest shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The rack frame'ma'yadvantageously be constructed from anextrusionaluminum alloy rail,having a vertical wall portion 23 andsan outwardly extending flange '24.The front part of the rack support frame is advantageously constructedby bending said rail into U-shape. with parallel side legs. Flange 24 ofthe respective side portions fits between the upper and lowe sets ofballs, each of which as shown, inFig.-4 may be in engagement with theflangeandvertical wall of the rack frame, and ajfiange-and web of thechannel-like rails [2. The rack frame is completed by a rearcross-member 25 of angle shape to provide a rear wall having its topedge co-planar with the top edge of the rail'portion 23, and-a web-25suitablybelow. theilevel of-said upper edge as presently described. Itwill be apparent that there is no reason other than structural strengthand manufacturing convenience to have the flange-24 extend acrossthe'front of the frame. A suitable stop 21 is formed at each extremityof .the frame side members and similar stops I2..I l2.2 are struck upfrom the ends of'the rail 12. Rubber bumpers 28 maybe riveted orotherwise fixed to the rear of member '25 to provide cushioned stopsengageable with the rear .of thevat.

I have found it expedient slightlyto toeein the free ends of the side.rails l2; so that .when the frame is drawn forwardly to its full outposition, the spring bias exerted by therails I2 .will rather tightlycrowd the rollers against the side of frame 22. In .practicethis hasbeen found to act as a simple but effective detent which-holds the rackframe in withdrawn position. The toe-in of rails l2 may be accomplishedby bending said rails slightly or .by making the respective frontmounting studs. Hi slightly longer than the rear studs: [4.].

'As somewhat schematically shown in Fig. 1, there may be a substantialdifference in the-size ofadinner plates. The most frequently used dinnerplate size indicatedat P is of the orderof 9 in diameter; a full sizedinner plate or place plate Pl may be 1'0 in diameter. .There is'also adifference in a length of drinking glasses. A conventional highballglass GI is about, 6" "long and a large size tumbler G2-and sometimesa"Pilsner glassmay be nearly 7" long. .Experienceindicates that in theaverage household it is not usual for the extremely long glasses and thefull size dinner plates to be used undercircumstances that they wouldbewashed together in the dishwasher; a dinner calling for the large sizeplates is ordinarily of rather formal nature and the use ofexceptionally long glasses would be unlikely. Conversely, the longhighball or Pilsner glasses are more appropriate for casual or informaloccurrences where the smaller size dinner plates serve adequately.

Accordingly, I have constructed the cup and glassware rack RI forplacement to give maximum spacing from the top of the washing vat toaccommodate the long glasses; or optionally, to provide maximum spacingbetween the bottom of rack RI and rack R (and correspondingly lessspacing between rack RI and the top of the vat) to accommodate the largeplates PI without conflict between the upper and lower racks. Thearrangement in Fig. 1 provides for washing long glasses; and as clearlyappears, the large size plates PI would then extend above the level ofthe bottom of rack RI and it would be impossible to slide either rackrelative to the other. On the other hand, there is adequate clearancefor the smaller size plate P. To accommodate the larger plates, the rackRI is adthe corners of the rack. Other variously disposed wires are asneeded to complete the structure and give proper support and slope tothe cups, glasses, and the like carried therein, but are not importantto the present invention.

Referring now to Fig. '7, it will be seen that corner wire 32 has anoffset 32.| and a base 32.2

and that corner wire 33 has an offset 33.I and a base 33.2. Thelongitudinal wires 3| have a simple rectangular bend 3|.I at one end andan offset 312 at the other. The base 3|.3 is co-planar with therespective bases 32.2 and 33.2. It will, of course, be understood thatthe corner wires 32 are at one end of the rack and wires 33 are at theother; and that the shoulders 3|.2 of the several wires 3| are in mutualalignment at the end of the rack at which are the corner wires 33. Itwill also be understood that the maximum length of the rack RIrepresented by the spacing between the verticals of the wires 3| is suchthat the rack will fit easily within the support frame '22, and that thevertical plane of the corner wires 32, 33 and the spacing thereof willbe within the arcuate corner areas of said frame.

It is apparent from Fig. '7 that the support frame has tworack-supporting walls which are in vertically spaced relation, viz., theupper edge of rail 23 and the surface of web '26. The relationship ofthe respective shoulder portions of the wires 3|, 32 and 33 to saidtwo-level support walls establishes the clearance of the rack RIrelative to the rack R. For example, Figs. 7 and 8 show the various racksupport wires effective to place the rack RI in the Fig. 3 position.Shoulders 32.I of support wires 32 engage the upper edge of frame 22;shoulders 33.I of support wires 33 rest upon the flange 26 of the framerear cross member 25. The bottom portions 3|.3, 32.2, and 33.2 of therespective support wires are in a common plane parallel to the plane ofthe frame 22. The shoulder 3|.2 seats on web 26..

Figs. 9 and 10 show a second relationship of the rack frame wires to therack frame support 22. With corner wires 33 now positioned at the frontof the rack frame, the shoulder 33.I rests on the upper edge of framemember 23.. Fig. 9 is intended to convey that the base 32.2 of cornerwire 32 does not engage the web 26 of the frame member 25. As isapparent, the spacing between the bottom of shoulder 33.I and the bottomof base 33.2 is equal to the vertical distance between the upper edge offrame member 23' and the upper surface of web 26. In Fig. 10 the rackwire 3| is shown in its relationship within the frame 22 so that itsrectangular offset 3I.I is seated on the web 26. It may also restagainst the vertical wall '25. The forward shoulder portion 3|.2 is notin engagement with the frame walls, but the rack is nevertheless firmlysupported by the corner wires 33 and the rear portion of wires 3|. Acomparison of Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 show that the dimensionalrelationships of the respective offset portions and base portions of theseveral frame wires are such as to place all base portions in a commonplane.

In using the dishwasher, either rack may be loaded first and then.pushed back into the vat. Asuuming that the lower rack is the first tobe loaded, it is drawn forwardly on its rollers, loaded, and returned tohome position. Perhaps one or more large size plates within the lowerrack interfere with the return of the rack by striking the upper rackRI. rack is again drawn out and the upper rack drawn out on its frame 22sufficiently to remove the rack from the frame. Because of the confiict,it is probable that the upper rack was in the position indicated inFigs. 7 and8. To increase the clearance between the upper and lowerracks, therefore, it is necessary only vto remove the upper rack fromthe support frame 22, turn it degrees in a horizontal plane, and thenreplace it in the frame. This will change the rack wire positionsrelative to the frame to that shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and ad'- ditionalclearance with respect to rackR will be gained.

It will be understood that where the guide rails are recited as being ina horizontal plane it is common practice to slope said rails downwardlytoward the rear of the vat so that the loaded racks will normally moveinto the vat. As previously described, the toe-in of the rails I2 servesas a detent holding the rack frame in extended posi tion during loading.It will also be understood that while there has been described what areat present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention,various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to coverin the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a dishwasher of the type having a washing vat provided with afront opening and alower rack supported in said vat to receive articlesto be washed, said lower rack being movable through said front openingfor loading or unloading, the improvement comprising guide rails securedin horizontally aligned relation on opposite sides of said vat abovesaid lower rack, said guide rails commencing adjacent said front openingand extending toward the rear of said vat, roller means at therespective guide rails and movable therealong toward or away from saidfront opens ing, a frame member carried by said roller means, said framemember having a first support wall structure at one end thereof, asecond support In such case, the lower i wazlkstructure atxthe oppositeend thereoLvsaid swallrstructuresfloeingat different horizontal-levels,aridan;artiole-receivingv rack arranged sto be sup- :'-ported.by'isaidframe in. eitherzottwo. horizontal aangle relationships'therewitnrsaidurack having structuralelements engageable with ssaidzwall :structuresa-to establish one vertica1 space relation between saidupper-land said lower ratsk anden- :ga'geable with said wall structuresuponrotation ofsaidrack to itssecond angular relation to peel- -tionsaid upper rack at a idifferent vertical-rela- 'tio'nship with respectto said lowerrack.

ZJ 'I he improvement in dishwashers according tonclaimf 1, in which theend portions of the guide trails vat the open end of the vat areunsupported iand converge slightly toward'each other-to exert :inwardlydirected pressure on said roller means aas;said' means approach-saidguiderail end por- -tions.

'1'3. Theiiimprovement in dishwashers according to 1,inizwhichrsaidguide rails are secured .toitherespect-iveside walls ofthe vat by means including a plurality of resilient: blocks disposed .atintervalsalong .the length of the rails, the foretmost..blocks,considered .with respect to the opening inthe vat, .beingrwell to therear of the front :endofsaidrails andbeing of greater length than thei-nextsucceeding-blocks so as'tc'reduce the .spacingibetween'said' rails:for the purpose of ex- :erttnga laterally rdirected'force on the rollermeans as;the: latter are drawn forwardly to the tendportions of therails.

4. Ina dishwasher of the type having a washing-vat provided with a frontopening and a lower rack supported :insaid' vat to. receive articles to.=be washedysaid lower rack being movable through said front opening forloading or unloading, the improvement! comprisinguguide rails secured inmutually :parallel, horizontally aligned relation :onsopposite sidesofsaid vat above said lower rack,

.saidsgu'ide'rails commencing adjacent said front openingand extending:toward thev rear of said vat, roller-means .at the respective guiderails and movableitherealong toward or away from said frontopening, aframe member carried by said roller means, said frame member having- 2,first wall structure providing a supp-orting surface at 20116 horizontallevel, and asecond .wall structure spaced laterally from the first andproviding-a supporting'surface ata different horizontal level,and-anarticle-receiving rackarranged to be sup ported by'said frame. ineither of two horizontal anglerelationships therewith, said rack havingstructural elements supportable on said firstand second structures toestablish one vertical *space relation between said upper. and said.lower rack and supportable on'the same supporting structures uponrotationof said rack to its secondangular relation to position said'upper-rack .in .a different. vertical relationship with respect tosaidlower rack.

'5. Ina dishwasher of the type havingawashing'vat provided with a. frontopening and alower rack supportedin said vat to receive articles to bewashed, said lower rack being movable through said front opening forloading or unloading, the improvement comprising guide rails secured inmutually parallel,- horizontally aligned relation on opposite sides ofsaid vat above-said lower rack, said guide rails commencing adjacentsaid front opening and extending toward the rear of said vat, rollermeans at the respective guide rails and movable therealong toward oraway from. said front opening, a substantially rectangular open framemember carried by said roller means, said iframe.memberihavingeazfirstsupport wallistructure .SltiOIIE end thereof andassecond support wall :str-uctureiatthe opposite end thereof, saidiwa'llstructures'being at different horizontal levels-and anrarticle-receivingrack arranged to be. removably supported byssaid frame'in-eitheruof twohorizontal angle relationships there with, ;said

vrack having afirst set of structural elements at oneend thereofandasecond set of structural-elements at the opposite end thereof, the"said-,sets ofv elements concurrently engaging said wallstruc- .tures'-for any frame-supported position of said able through said frontopening-forsloadingor .saideguide rails commencingiadjacent saidfrontopening and extending-towardthe rear of .said vat,,roller means at therespective guide rails and movable therealong -toward or ..-,away fromsaid front opening, a substantially rectangular, hollow, framememberhaving an outwardly extending flange cooperating withisaid roller.means to support the frame .for.- movement. along said guide rails,said frame having. oo-planarsupporting walls .-at one endithereof andsupporting wall means at the opposite end thereof, said last-named .wallmeans being spaced vertically from said first-named -walls, and anarticle-receiving rack arranged to besllpported within said frame ineither of two horizontal angle relationships therewith,- said rack;having .a 'first, pair of support means at one: endrof said rackanda'second pair of support means at the opposite end of said rack, each,said pair of.-.-support means having a base portion and: an out- .wardlyoffset portion abovesaidjbase portion all of said'base portions being ina common plane; the. offsetportions .ofthesfirst pair being in a common.plane andthe ofisetportionseither-sec- 0nd pair being ma common plane'at .a-lower height'relative-t-to said "base portion than those of .thefirst pair; the: respective baseand-offset portions .bei-ng'so relatedto said first and secondnamed supporting wallsthat with the rack in oneposition on the-frame the :OfiSEtyPOItlOIIS-Of the firstenamedpair ofrack. structures rest onthe first-named rack; supporting walls and theoffset portions of .the second-.namedpair-rest on-the second-:named racksupporting wall means, and with the rack in its;- secondiposition on theframe the base portionsof the first-named pair, of rack structures are.in theplane of the second-named rack supporting wallmeansand .the offsetportions of the second-named pair rest on the firstnamed rack supportingwalls, whereby the base p'ortions'of' said rack will be in differentheight relation to the support-'frame'for eachof the rack positions.

'7 The improvement in dishwashers according to claim-6, in which saidsecond-named-rack supporting wall means comprises ashelfextending from iside .toside of :said' frame-ate level below said first-named supportingwalls.

8. The improvement in dishwashers according to claim 6, in which saidframe member has arcuate corner portions, and said rack supporting wallstructures are within said corner portions.

9. In a dishwasher of the type having a Washing vat provided with afront opening and a lower rack mounted in said vat on means permittingthe rack to be drawn from or returned into said rack through said frontopening, the improvement comprising guide rails secured to therespective side walls of said vat in horizontally aligned substantiallyparallel relation above said lower rack, roller means mounted on saidside rails for movement therealong toward or away from said frontopening, a hollow rectangular frame member having flange means extendingfrom its side portions into permanent engagement with said roller meansto support the same therein, rack support elements on said frame member,an article-receiving rack, and means on said rack engageable with saidsupport elements to support the rack within said frame at either of twodifferent levels with respect to said lower rack.

10. In a dishwasher of the type having a wash- 25 the rack to be drawnfrom or returned into said 10 rack through said front opening, theimprovement comprising guide rails secured to the respective side Wallsof said vat in horizontally aligned substantially parallel relationabove said lower rack, roller means mounted on said side rails formovement therealong toward or away from said front opening, a hollowrectangular frame member having flange means extending from its sideportions into permanent engagement with said roller means to support thesame therein, rack support elements on said frame member, anarticle-receiving rack, and shoulder means on said rack at differentlevels relative to the base thereof and engageable with said supportelements to support the rack within said frame at a selected one of saiddifferent levels with respect to said lower rack.

JAMES G. RUSPINO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,064,518 Brogden Dec. 15, 1936 2,252,964 Faulkner Aug. 19,1941 2,459,657 Klein Jan. 18, 1949 2,486,932 Elliott Nov, 1, 1949

